Apteryx | Define Apteryx at Dictionary.com apteryx Expand 1805-1815 1805-15; < New Latin: the genus name, equivalent to Greek a- a- 6 + -pteryx, adj. use of ptéryx wing Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for apteryx Expand Historical Examples When all other class distinctions are abolished, this one will remain, like the bones of the apteryx. When Ghost Meets Ghost William Frend De Morgan The New Zealand "kiwi," known to naturalists as the apteryx. Birds in Flight W. P. Pycraft Palapteryx, pal-ap′tėr-iks, n. a genus of fossil birds found in New Zealand, resembling the apteryx. Island Life Alfred Russel Wallace The plumage of the apteryx is brown; it has no tail, and its mere stumps of wings are provided with strong and curved claws.

British Dictionary definitions for apteryx Expand another name for kiwi (sense 1) Word Origin C19: from New Latin: wingless creature; see apterous Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Apteryx - definition of apteryx by The Free Dictionary Apteryx - definition of apteryx by The Free Dictionary See kiwi . [New Latin Apteryx, genus name : a- + Greek pterux, wing; see pet- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] apteryx (Animals) another name for kiwi 1 [C19: from New Latin: wingless creature; see apterous] ki•wi n., pl. -wis. 1. any of several flightless, nocturnal, ratite birds comprising the order Apterygiformes, of New Zealand. 2.

Also called ki′wi•fruit` (-ˌfrut) the egg-sized edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and green flesh. 3. Informal. a New Zealander. [1825–35; < Maori] Noun 1. apteryx - nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformes flightless bird , ratite , ratite bird - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds genus Apteryx - type genus of the Apterygidae: kiwis Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Wingless bird References in classic literature ?

If about a dozen genera of birds had become extinct or were unknown, who would have ventured to have surmised that birds might have existed which used their wings solely as flappers, like the logger-headed duck(Micropterus of Eyton); as fins in the water and front legs on the land, like the penguin; as sails, like the ostrich; and functionally for no purpose, like the Apteryx. Name search | New Zealand Birds Online Skip to main content Skip to navigation Your search results: searching for the name kiwi Unexpected search result? Check 'Other names' to see if the same letters appear there e.g. 'moa' returns takahikare-moana (white-faced storm petrel). Why not find out more about those species too. Sort results by... North Island brown kiwi videos, photos and facts - Apteryx mantelli | ARKive Top North Island brown kiwi biology Pairs can mate for life, although ‘divorces’ are not uncommon (3) . During the breeding season, that runs from June to March, they are extremely territorial ; males usually defend their territory through calling displays but may occasionally fight intruding birds (5) .

Females produce one of the proportionally largest eggs of any bird, comprising about 15 percent of her body weight (3) (5) . The enormous egg is laid within the burrow. Two eggs may be laid in a clutch, but they are laid three to four weeks apart (3) . Up to three different clutches can be laid in a year (5) . The male North Island brown kiwi has the role of incubating the egg, and he develops a bare patch of skin on his belly (known as a 'brood patch') that facilitates the transfer of heat to the developing egg (5) . Incubation takes 75 to 90 days (3) and the male will leave the egg to forage during the night, concealing the burrow entrance whilst he is gone (5) . Chicks hatch fully-feathered and will venture out of the nest when about a week old, but they keep returning to the nest each day until they leave their natal territory at four to six weeks of age (3) (5) . Kiwis are nocturnal , terrestrial birds, spending the day in burrows dug into the ground with powerful claws (4) (5) .

Invertebrates constitute the majority of the diet, and insects are found by probing beneath leaf litter with the long beak (3) (6) . Top North Island brown kiwi range Endemic to New Zealand and previously widespread throughout the northern two-thirds of the North Island, this species has now declined in many districts (2) . Top North Island brown kiwi threats North Island brown kiwis have undergone a dramatic decline and as much as 90 percent of the population may have been lost since the start of the 20th Century (2) . Research since the early 1990s has revealed that kiwi numbers in unmanaged areas of the North Island have been declining by about four percent a year (5) . These birds evolved on an island that lacked terrestrial mammalian predators and have been devastated by the introduction of species such as dogs, stoats and cats (5) ; a single dog is known to have killed roughly 500 birds in one six-week period (2) .

Around 95 percent of chicks never reach sexual maturity, primarily as a result of predation, but also as the results of accidents such as falls from cliffs, drowning and encounters with traps or poison set for possums (3) (5) . The loss of much of New Zealand's habitat has exacerbated these threats by isolating surviving populations and predators in fragmented pockets of remaining habitat (5) . Top North Island brown kiwi conservation The North Island brown kiwi is the subject of a concerted and wide-ranging conservation programme managed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation and Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi (3) (4) . A number of different strategies are being employed, including the protection of wild nests and chicks by trapping predators, the artificial incubation of eggs and chicks in predator-free environments until they are big enough and old enough to cope with stoats and cats, and breeding of captive birds for release into the wild (3) (4) . In the species' stronghold of Northland, the Whangarei Kiwi Sanctuary has been established whilst on the Coromandel Penninsula, Moehau Kiwi Sanctuary protects the individuals located there (5) .

Where there is active management of populations and predator control, North Island brown kiwi numbers have shown dramatic increases (5) . It is hoped that the many conservation measures in place will help to preserve New Zealand's national bird for generations to come. Find out more about the North Island brown kiwi: Kiwis for Kiwi: Heather, B.D. and Robertson, H.A. (2005) The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Viking, Auckland. TerraNature: ADW: Apteryx australis: INFORMATION References Geographic Range Apteryx australis, commonly known as brown kiwis, is located in the Australian biogeographic region. They are endemic to New Zealand, and reside on North Island (in Northland and Taranaki), South island (in Fiordland and Westland), and Stewart Island. ( "Department of Conservation", 2002 ; Burton, 1985 ; "Answers to Kiwi Questions", 2006 ; Turbott, 1967 ) Apteryx australis is considered by some authors to be made up of two, distinct species, corresponding to the previously recognized subspecies A.

australis mantelli - now A. mantelli, and A. australis australis and A. australis lawryi - both retained within A. australis. North Island brown kiwis (A. mantelli) are the most common kind of kiwi, found only on the North Island of New Zealand. Apteryx australis includes populations on Stewart Island (A. a. lawryi) and South Island (A. a. australis), including populations in the Haast range and the fiordlands. Populations in the Haast range (Haast tokoekas) may represent a distinct species as well. ( Baker, et al., 1995 ) The population of brown kiwis found in Okarito forests on the western coast of the South Island was recently recognized as a distinct species, Apteryx rowi, Okarito brown kiwis or rowis. It is thought that this species is made up of only 200 individuals currently.

( Tennyson, et al., 2003 ) Biogeographic Regions 0.00 to ft Physical Description Brown kiwis are members of the flightless ratite group ( Struthioniformes ). They are unique in their small size and adaptations to forest floor life. These birds are roughly the size of a chicken, with the female being slightly larger. They range in size from 45 to 54 cm long, and weigh from 2.8 to 3.5 kg. They are brownish grey in color with long, soft feathers that look and feel very fur-like. Their skin is tough and they have whiskers at the base of their bill used for touch. This is especially important for these birds because they have small eyes and poor vision. These birds do not have a tail and their 5 cm long wings prevent them from flying. Brown kiwis have powerful legs and can run quickly. The nostrils are at the end of their long bills and they have a keen sense of smell. The birds thrust their bill into the ground, gather the food, and beat the prey on the ground before they consume it.

Other characteristics include heavy bone marrow, a body temperature lower than most other birds, and underdeveloped pectoral muscles. Brown kiwis have body temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius. ( "Department of Conservation", 2002 ; "Answers to Kiwi Questions", 2006 ; Turbott, 1967 ; "wikipedia", 2006 ; Williams, 1963 ; "Willowbank", 2006 ) Other Physical Features AnAge Reproduction Brown kiwis meet in nesting burrows every few days and call to each other at night to begin mating. This ritual occurs between March and June. The relationship is volatile and physical with the females primarily being the dominant one. They are monogamous unless a “better” mate comes along. ( Turbott and Keulemans, 1967 ; "wikipedia", 2006 ; "Willowbank", 2006 ) Mating System monogamous Brown kiwis breed throughout the year but only lay one egg at a time. A second egg might be laid four to six weeks after the first one.

The eggs are unique because of their size relative to the adult bird's mass. Brown kiwi eggs are one-third of the female's mass, making them the largest eggs (relative to mass) of any bird. Incubation period lasts up to eleven weeks and the chicks are ready to leave the nest in approximately six to ten days. Females reach sexual maturity on average between the ages of three and five. Males reach this sexual maturity in approximately 18 months. ( "Wildanimalonline", 2006 ; "Department of Conservation", 2002 ; Turbott, 1967 ) Key Reproductive Features Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) 18 months months Female brown kiwis dig out the nest and deposit the kiwi eggs, which are smooth and are either ivory or light green in color. After the eggs are laid, males take over incubation and nest maintenance until the eggs hatch. During this time males lose one-third of their weight. After hatching, the chicks do not rely on parents for food. They survive from the copious amount of yolk in their belly.

Kiwi chicks venture out of the burrow soon after hatching, although there have been reports of chicks being near their parents for up to a year. Because kiwi chicks are slow, small (weighting only 275 grams and being five inches), and unable to respond to predators, few survive to twelve months old. After that time, they reach a size that enables them to escape most predators. ( "Wildanimalonline", 2006 ; Burton, 1985 ; "Kiwi", 2006 ; "Answers to Kiwi Questions", 2006 ) Parental Investment Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research Behavior Brown kiwis are described as "honorary mammals" because they have some characteristics that are similary to many mammals. They are nocturnal, rely heavily on a sense of smell, and have feathers that resemble fur. Brown kiwis are shy and mainly solitary, but they will travel in companies of six to twelve. Being nocturnal is beneficial because it reduces competition, they can take advantage of food that is not available during the day, and the darkness brings safety from predators. Brown kiwis will attack if threatened but are more likely to try and escape a threatening interaction.

During the day, brown kiwis will hide in their burrows and coil themselves into a ball until nightfall, when they search for food. ( Burton, 1985 ; "Answers to Kiwi Questions", 2006 ; Turbott and Keulemans, 1967 ; "wikipedia", 2006 ) Key Behaviors 50,000 to 500, 000 m^2 Home Range Their habitat ranges from sea level to areas that are 1,200 meters above ground. Territories range from five to 50 hectares, which is correlated to the quality of the area. Brown kiwis are known to be highly territorial. Once another bird enters their territory, they will cry out a call to warn that bird to leave or else prepare to fight.

( "Wildanimalonline", 2006 ; Attenborough, 1998 ; "Kiwi", 2006 ; "Answers to Kiwi Questions", 2006 ; "Kiwi Club (Chemistry & New Zealand)", 2005 ; "wikipedia", 2006 ) Communication and Perception Brown kiwis communicate through a cry, which sounds like a prolonged whistle slightly ascending and descending. Males make a mournful shriek, "kee-wee," and females have a low hoarse cry. Chicks tend to make a clicking sound. The cry indicates their presence at night, and helps in finding mates. They also congregate in companies from six to twelve. To hear the cry of brown kiwis, click here: Kiwis are unusual among birds in having a keen sense of smell. They have an enlarged olfactory bulb. Communication Channels chemical Food Habits Brown kiwis are carnivorous, they feed mainly on soil and aquatic invertebrates such as worms, insects, crayfish, amphibians, and eels. They also eat fruit. At night, these birds use their long bills to dig deep into the ground to find creatures living on the ground.

After they have caught something, they use their bills to beat the creature on the ground, or on stones to kill it before eating. Cone-shape holes left in the ground after hunting are easy ways to discover their occurrence in an area. ( "Wildanimalonline", 2006 ; "Department of Conservation", 2002 ; "Willowbank", 2006 ) Primary Diet young are relatively well-developed when born References Tourism New Zealand. 2006. The Official Tourism New Zealand Site for Destination New Zealand. Accessed November 08, 2006 at . FONZ. 2006. "Answers to Kiwi Questions" (On-line). Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Accessed November 08, 2006 at . Bank of New Zealand Kiwi Recovery™ Trust, Bank of New Zealand, and Department of Conservatio. 2002. "Department of Conservation" (On-line). Save the Kiwi. Accessed October 09, 2006 at . 2004. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" (On-line). Threatened Species.

Accessed October 06, 2006 at . LA & HA Campbell. 2005. "Kiwi Club (Chemistry & New Zealand)" (On-line). Accessed October 10, 2006 at . Data Koncepts. 2006. "Kiwi" (On-line). Kiwi Information. Accessed November 08, 2006 at . CBS. 2006. "New Zealand ready to vaccinate treasured kiwiw against bird flu" (On-line). CBS News. Accessed November 08, 2006 at . 2006. "Wildanimalonline" (On-line). BIRDS. Accessed October 13, 2006 at . Willowbank Reserve. 2006. "Willowbank" (On-line). Accessed October 10, 2006 at . 2006. "World: Asia-Pacific Kiwis 'freefall' to extinction" (On-line). BBC News. Accessed September 06, 1999 at . wikimedia. 2006. "wikipedia" (On-line). Kiwi.

Accessed October 10, 2006 at . Attenborough, D. 1998. The Life of Birds. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University. Baker, A., C. Daugherty, R. Colbourne, J. McLennan. 1995. Flightless Brown Kiwis of New Zealand Possess Extremely Subdivided Population Structure and Cryptic Species Like Small Mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 92: 8254-8258. Burton, R. 1985. Bird Behavior. New York, New York: Roxby Natural History Limited. Olliver, N. 2005. "nzbirds" (On-line). North Island brown Kiwi. Accessed November 11, 2006 at . Tennyson, A., R. Palma, H. Robertson, T. Worthy, B. Gill. 2003. A new species of kiwi (Aves, Apterygiformes) from Okarito, New Zealand. Records of the Auckland Museum, 40: 55-64.

Turbott, E., J. Keulemans. 1967. Buller's Birds of New Zealand. Tokyo: John Weatherhill. Turbott, F. 1967. A Field Guide To The Birds Of New Zealand. Boston, Ma: The Riverside Press Cambridge. Williams, G. 1963. Birds of New Zealand. 182 Wakefield Street, Wellington: Publishers of New Zealand Books. Kiwi | All Birds Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand , in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae. At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world. [2] There are five recognised species, all of which are endangered ; all species have been adversely affected by historic deforestation but currently large areas of their forest habitat are well protected in reserves and national parks. At present, the greatest threat to their survival is predation by invasive mammalian predators.

The kiwi is a national symbol of New Zealand – indeed, the association is so strong that the term Kiwi is used, all over the world, as the colloquial demonym for New Zealanders . Contents [ show ] Species There are five accepted species of kiwi (one of which has four sub-species), plus one to be formally described. The largest species is the Great Spotted Kiwi or Roroa, Apteryx haastii, which stands about 45 cm (18 in) high and weighs about 3.3 kg (7.3 lb). (Males about {{convert|2.4|kg|lb|abbr=on}) It has grey-brown plumage with lighter bands. The female lays just one egg, which both parents then incubate. Population is estimated to be over 20,000, distributed through the more mountainous parts of northwest Nelson, the northern West Coast, and the Southern Alps . The very small Little Spotted Kiwi , Apteryx owenii is unable to withstand predation by introduced pigs , stoats and cats, which have led to its extinction on the mainland.

About 1350 remain on Kapiti Island and it has been introduced to other predator-free islands and appears to be becoming established with about 50 'Little Spots' on each island. A docile bird the size of a bantam , it stands 25 cm (9.8 in) high and the female weighs 1.3 kg (2.9 lb). She lays one egg which is incubated by the male. File:Three kiwi species models in Auckland museum.jpg The Okarito Kiwi , also known as the Rowi or Okarito Brown Kiwi, Apteryx rowi, first identified as a new species in 1994, [3] is slightly smaller, with a greyish tinge to the plumage and sometimes white facial feathers. Females lay as many as three eggs in a season, each one in a different nest. Male and female both incubate.

Distribution of these kiwi are limited to a small area on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand, however studies of ancient DNA have revealed that in prehuman times it was far more widespread up the west coast of the South Island and was present in the lower half of the North Island where it was the only kiwi species detected. [4] The Southern Brown Kiwi , Apteryx australis, relatively common species of kiwi known from south and west parts of the South Island that occurs at most elevations. It is approximately the size of the Great Spotted Kiwi and is similar in appearance to the Brown Kiwi but its plumage is lighter in colour. Ancient DNA studies have shown that in prehuman times the distribution of this species included the east coast of the South Island. [4] There are several subspecies of the Tokoeka recognised: The Stewart Island Southern Brown Kiwi, Apteryx australis lawryi, is a subspecies of Tokoeka from Stewart Island .

The Northern Fiordland Southern Brown Kiwi (Apteryx australis ?) and Southern Fiordland Tokoeka (Apteryx australis ?) live in the remote southwest part of the South Island known as Fiordland . These sub-species of Tokoeka are relatively common and are nearly 40 cm (16 in) tall. The Haast Southern Brown Kiwi, Apteryx australis ‘Haast’, is the rarest subspecies of kiwi with only about 300 individuals. It was identified as a distinct form in 1993. It only occurs in a restricted area in the South Island's Haast Range of the Southern Alps at an altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). This form is distinguished by a more strongly downcurved bill and more rufous plumage. The North Island Brown Kiwi , Apteryx mantelli or Apteryx australis before 2000 (and still in some sources), is widespread in the northern two-thirds of the North Island and, with about 35,000 remaining, [5] is the most common kiwi.

Females stand about 40 cm (16 in) high and weigh about 2.8 kg (6.2 lb), the males about 2.2 kg (4.9 lb). The North Island Brown has demonstrated a remarkable resilience: it adapts to a wide range of habitats, even non-native forests and some farmland. The plumage is streaky red-brown and spiky. The female usually lays two eggs, which are incubated by the male. The Glennshire Kiwi , Apteryx glennshirensis[ made-up sp. ], is a recreated species found in pockets of the Frost National Forest in Devonshire . There are only about 1000 left, making them Endangered. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA , ecology , behaviour, morphology , geographic distribution and parasites of the North Island Brown Kiwi has led scientists to propose that the Brown Kiwi is three distinct species.

The North Island Brown Kiwi; the Okarito Brown Kiwi (Rowi), whose distribution is restricted to a single site on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand; and a third distinct population of the North Island Brown Kiwi, the Southern Tokoeka, distributed in the lowland forest to the north of Franz Josef glacier in the South Island and on Stewart Island/Rakiura , with a small population near Haast being another possibly distinct species, the Haast Tokoeka. Biology Evolution It was long presumed that the kiwi was closely related to the other New Zealand ratites, the moa . However, recent DNA studies indicate that the ostrich is more closely related to the moa and the kiwi is more closely related to the emu and the cassowaries . This theory suggests that the ancestors of the kiwi arrived in New Zealand from elsewhere in Australasia well after the moa. According to British scientists, the kiwi may be an ancient import from Australia. Researchers at Oxford University have found DNA evidence connected to Australia's emu and the ostrich of Africa. Upon examining DNA from the moa, they believe that the kiwi is more closely related to its Australian cousins.

[6] Behaviour and ecology Before the arrival of humans in the 13th century or earlier, New Zealand's only endemic mammals were three species of bat , and the ecological niches that in other parts of the world were filled by creatures as diverse as horses, wolves and mice were taken up by birds (and, to a lesser extent, reptiles). Kiwi are shy and usually nocturnal . Their mostly nocturnal habits may be a result of habitat intrusion by predators, including humans. In areas of New Zealand where introduced predators have been removed, such as sanctuaries, kiwi are often seen in daylight. They prefer subtropical and temperate podocarp and beech forests, but they are being forced to adapt to different habitat, such as sub-alpine scrub, tussock grassland, and the mountains. [7] Kiwi have a highly developed sense of smell , unusual in a bird, and are the only birds with nostrils at the end of their long beaks . Kiwi eat small invertebrates, seeds, grubs, and many varieties of worms. They also may eat fruit, small crayfish, eels and amphibians.

Because their nostrils are located at the end of their long beaks, Kiwi can locate insects and worms underground without actually seeing or feeling them, due to their keen sense of smell. [7] Relative size of the egg Once bonded, a male and female kiwi tend to live their entire lives as a monogamous couple. During the mating season, June to March, the pair call to each other at night, and meet in the nesting burrow every three days. These relationships may last for up to 20 years. [8] They are unique among other birds in that they have a functioning pair of ovaries . [7] Kiwi eggs can weigh up to one quarter the weight of the female. Usually only one egg is laid per season. The kiwi lays the biggest egg in proportion to its size of any bird in the world, [9] so even though the kiwi is about the size of a domestic chicken, it is able to lay eggs that are about six times the size of a chicken's egg. [10] [11] Eggs are smooth in texture, and are ivory or green-ish white. [12] The male incubates the egg, except for the Great spotted kiwi, A.

haastii, where both parents are involved. The incubation period is 63–92 days. [7] Producing the huge egg places a lot of demands on the female. For the thirty days it takes to grow the fully developed egg the female must eat three times her normal amount of food. Two to three days before the egg is laid there is little space left inside the female for her stomach and she is forced to fast. [13] Morphology Their adaptation to a terrestrial life is extensive: like all ratites they have no keel on the breastbone to anchor wing muscles, and barely any wings. The vestiges are so small that they are invisible under the bristly, hair-like, two-branched feathers of the kiwi. While birds generally have hollow bones to minimise weight and make flight practicable, kiwi have marrow, in the style of mammals. With no constraints on weight due to flight requirements, some Brown Kiwi females carry and lay a single 450 g (16 oz) egg . Like most other ratites, they have no preen gland . Their bill is long, pliable, and sensitive to the touch, and their eyes have a reduced pecten .

Their feathers lack barbules , and aftershafts , and they have large vibrissae around the gape . They have 13 flight feathers, no tail, just a small pygostyle . Finally, their gizzard is weak and their caecum is long and narrow. [7] Relationship with humans File:1898 kiwi 6d red.JPG Kiwi and Māori The Māori traditionally believe that kiwi are under the protection of Tane Mahuta , god of the forest. Kiwi feathers are particularly important to Māori, as they are used for kahu-kiwi – ceremonial cloaks. [14] Today, while kiwi feathers are still used, they are gathered from kiwi that die naturally or through road accidents or predation, and Māori no longer hunt kiwi, but consider themselves their guardians. [15] Discovery and documentation The first kiwi specimen to be studied by Europeans was a kiwi skin brought to George Shaw by Captain Andrew Barclay aboard the ship Providence, who was reported to have been given it by a sealer in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) around 1811.

George Shaw gave the kiwi its scientific name and drew sketches of the way he imagined a live bird to look which appeared as plates 1057 and 1058 in volume 24 of The Naturalist's Miscellany Template:Full in 1813. Zoos In 1851, London Zoo became the first zoo to keep kiwi. The first captive breeding took place in 1945. [16] As of 2007 only 13 zoos outside New Zealand hold kiwi. [17] The Frankfurt Zoo has 12, the Berlin Zoo has 7, Walsrode Bird Park has 1, the Washington Zoo has 3, the Avifauna Bird Park in the Netherlands has 3, the San Diego Zoo has 5, the San Diego Wild Animal Park has 1, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park has 5, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute has 1 and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus , Ohio has 3.

[18] Template:Failed verification Etymology The Māori language word kiwi ( 11px / ˈ k iː w iː / KEE-wee ) [19] is generally accepted to be "of imitative origin" from the call. [20] However, linguists derive the word from Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *kiwi, which refers to Numenius tahitiensis, the Bristle-thighed Curlew , a migratory bird that winters in the tropical Pacific islands. [21] With its long decurved bill and brown body, the curlew resembles the Kiwi. So when the first Polynesian settlers arrived, they simply reused the word for the new-found bird. [15] The genus name Apteryx is derived from Ancient Greek "without wing": a-, "without" or "not"; pterux, "wing". [22] As a national symbol The kiwi as a symbol first appeared in the late 19th century in New Zealand regimental badges. It was later featured in the badges of the South Canterbury Battalion in 1886 and the Hastings Rifle Volunteers in 1887.

Soon after, the kiwi appeared in many military badges, and in 1906 when Kiwi Shoe Polish was widely sold in the UK and the USA the symbol became more widely known. During the First World War, the name "kiwi" for New Zealand soldiers came into general use, and a giant kiwi, (now known as the Bulford Kiwi ), was carved on the chalk hill above Sling Camp in England. Use has now spread so that now all New Zealanders overseas and at home are commonly referred to as " kiwis ". The kiwi has since become the most well-known national symbol for New Zealand, and the bird is prominent in the coat of arms, crests and badges of many New Zealand cities, clubs and organisations. [12] [23] The New Zealand dollar is often referred to as "the kiwi dollar". [24] Programs for saving endangered Kiwi To protect the endangered Kiwi, a number of trusts and protection programs have been set up.

These include: New Zealand Birds | Birds | Gallery | Haast and Southern Tokoeka Kiwi, Apteryx australis lawryi Tokoeka Kiwi The first Kiwi skin to be fowarded to Europe belonged to this species and was obtained by Captain Barclay of the ship Providence about 1813. It found its way to Lord Derby’s museum and was described by Dr. Shaw under its present name Apteryx australis. So strange did the description seem that for a long time the very existence of the species was not credited and the specimen had to be produced to convince doubting minds that it was possible for such a strange bird to exist.

Considering the state of systematic ornithology at the time, Shaw’s assignment of a position to this new and strange bird, of which he had but the skin, gives him great credit, for he said it seemed “to approach more nearly to the Struthious and Gallinaceous tribes than to any other.” And his credit is still greater when we find the venerable John Latham, who is said to have examined the specimen with Shaw, placing it some years later among the penguins, being apparently led to that conclusion through its functionless wings and the backward situation of its legs. At Shaw’s death, in the same year, it passed into the possession of Lord Stanley, afterwards 13th earl of Derby, and president of the Zoological Society, and it is now with the rest of his collection in the Liverpool Museum. The specimen was obtained at Dusky Sound, as likewise was the next one of this species to be taken, namely a bird collected by Mantelli and shown at a meeting of the Zoological Society in 1850 when Bartlett defined his species from the North Island.

Two other specimens found their way to Europe, one to Leiden and another to Vienna and up to 1862 these four were all that were known. In 1890, Sir Walter Lawry Buller received a specimen of a large Kiwi taken on Stewart Island and exhibited the skin at a meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society. This was the earliest record Oliver could find of a Kiwi having been collected on Stewart Island. Three years later a specimen was sent to Rothschild who made it the basis of a new species, Apteryx lawryi. In 1911, Guthrie–Smith made a study of the nesting habits of this Kiwi and gave an account of them in his book Mutton Birds and Other Birds. Taxonomy New Zealand Birds | Birds | Gallery | North Island brown kiwi, Apteryx australis mantelli North Island brown Kiwi How often have I sat on the veranda of an evening as the dusk deepens into darkness, waiting, listening for the cry of the Kiwi, only to be distracted by the hunting cry of Ruru, the owl.

How long is it since I have heard the Kiwi, bird of the night, come out of the seclusion of its lair to wake the evening with its shrill reiteration of the call, “kiwi, kiwi”! stating his territorial challenge to anyone who wants to hear. To think they were once so numerous the early settlers complained that they could not sleep for their calls which may carry up to a kilometre in distance. Kiwi calls are usually heard an hour before dawn and an hour after dusk, the calls being more frequent on dark moon less nights. Females give a lower hoarser cry compared with males but both birds, when alarmed or aggressive, growl, hiss and loudly snap their beaks together. As they wander through the forest at night, they are apt to make loud snuffling noises which is caused by the feeding kiwi forcing air out of its nostrils to clear the nasal passages of dirt as it probes the earth with its bill.

The Kiwi is the smallest member of that group of birds called the ratites, the group that contains the world’s largest birds, the emu, rhea, ostrich and cassowary, as well as the extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the Moas of New Zealand. They are about the same size as domestic fowls, the females being about twenty per cent heavier than the males. The plumage is loose and hair like which gives them a shaggy appearance. They have long, slender, slightly downward curved bills with the nostrils near the tip and in this they differ from all other birds which have nostrils near the back of the upper bill. However, they are rarely seen and, until recently, little studied and so poorly understood. The Kiwi is remarkably unbirdlike, so much so that the zoologist Stephen Jay Gould called them honorary mammals. They dig burrows like a badger and their faces bristle with catlike whiskers. Their shaggy plumage looks more like fur than feathers which gives them a rat like appearance. Indeed, they fill an ecological niche elsewhere occupied by anteaters, hedgehogs and echnidas.

Though Stewart Island brown kiwi emerge from their burrows to forage at dusk or on overcast days, the kiwi is a nocturnal bird. Kiwi, unlike other nocturnal birds, have poor vision — the eyes are small and the optic lobes of the brain very reduced. On the other hand the senses of touch, hearing and particularly smell, are very highly developed. Most birds have little or no sense of smell but Kiwi are an exception. The olfactory bulbs of the brain are very large and have a structure similar to that of mammals. They are masters of camouflage and stealth which is a reason while they are more often heard than seen. Their plumage blends in perfectly with the bush and they often use different shelters each day. They dig their nesting burrows so long in advance that the moss and ferns re-establish themselves around the entrance. On leaving a burrow at night they often mask the opening with deftly placed twigs. Territorial disputes are usually resolved by vocal duels but when driven their combat is a furious kick and tear kind of warfare with high jumps and slashing blows with their vicious claws. All Kiwi will put up a fight when cornered, the little spotted being the most vicious.

Given that Kiwi are nocturnal birds, they breed throughout the year, although more eggs are laid from July to February. The egg is a quarter of the female’s own weight. The male North Island brown Kiwi incubates the eggs, leaving only to go feeding a few hours each night. After 80 days incubation, the chicks are hatched and survives the first week of its life on its yolk sac. It is accompanied by the parent for a week or two and may even share a burrow with their father but after a fortnight the chicks are on their own and are very vulnerable, not only to predators but other adult Kiwi. Little spotted Kiwi behave similarly to the North Island browns but the parents allow the young to remain in their territory for up to a year. Among the Okarito and great spotted Kiwi, the females play a much larger role in incubation, regularly taking turns incubating the egg. On Stewart Island, Tokoeka live in large extended families with the juveniles staying with the parents and even helping in the incubating.

This co-operative strategy is helping their survival and they have the strongest and most dynamic population of up to 20,000 birds, whereas the North Island brown is the species which is in trouble as the young chicks are not surviving in sufficient numbers to ensure their future. In all species of Kiwi, brooding males develop a brood patch on their chests and bellies. Female Okarito Kiwi also develop this patch. When both parents incubate, the egg hatches faster. It is postulated that the reason why the North Island brown female plays no part in incubation is because she needs to conserve her resources to lay a second egg while the other species typically lay only one egg. Maori call Kiwi te manu huna a Tane, the hidden bird of Tane. It was caught at night by imitating its cry, or in the daytime by the use of dogs which found its burrows. The Kiwi was used for food by Maori and its feathers were much valued for making cloaks. The cloak is known as a Kahu-Kiwi and is made by weaving the feathers into a base of flax fibre.

Such feather cloaks were highly valued and often the feathers of white birds and the kiwi kura, the red kiwi, were used for borders and stripes. In 1827, the North Island kiwi was met with at Tolaga Bay by d’Urville who, as commander of the French exploring expedition, was then visiting New Zealand in the Astrolabe. Shortly after this, in 1834, the Reverend W. Yate stated that this Kiwi was rare but found in the greatest numbers at Mount Hikurangi, which is inland from Tolaga Bay. The naturalists of the French expedition that visited New Zealand in 1839 in the Astrolabe and Zelee, Hombron and Jacquinot, also obtained the North Island Kiwi and published a coloured plate of it in their report on the birds collected by the expedition. Hitherto it had not been distinguished from the South Island Kiwi but in 1850 Mr Bartlett showed a series of specimens at a meeting of the Zoological Society of London and, comparing them with specimens taken from Dusky Sound, pointed out several differences. He accordingly named it Apteryx mantelli.

A live specimen, presented to the Zoological Society by Lieutentant Governor Eyre in 1851, lived for some years and laid several eggs. Taxonomy Kiwi: Female North Island brown kiwi song (MP3, 2252K) 2 minute 24 second recording of a female brown kiwi calling her mate. Note: Right-click the song link for options to save. Bird songs may be reused according to our copyright terms. More help on files . Breeding Adult kiwi usually mate for life, and are strongly territorial. Depending on the species, the male kiwi does most of the egg incubation. There is usually one clutch of one egg per year from June to December. Brown kiwi often have two clutches of two eggs. Chicks hatch fully feathered after a long incubation of 70-85 days, emerge from the nest to feed at about five days old and are never fed by their parents. Juveniles grow slowly, taking three to five years to reach adult size. Distribution View a map of the distribution of kiwi . Threat status All kiwi species are threatened with extinction, but to varying degrees.

The rowi and the Haast tokoeka are our most threatened kiwi, due to their small population size and limited number of populations. The brown kiwi, great spotted kiwi, and the Fiordland and Rakiura (Stewart Island)forms of tokoeka are 'nationally vulnerable', the third highest threat ranking in the New Zealand Threat Classification System; and the little spotted kiwi is classified as “at risk (recovering)”. Kiwi and people Cultural importance Kiwi are a significant national icon, equally cherished by all cultures in New Zealand. Kiwi are a symbol for the uniqueness of New Zealand wildlife and the value of our natural heritage. The bird itself is a taonga (treasure) to Maori, who have strong cultural, spiritual and historic associations with kiwi. Its feathers are valued in weaving kahukiwi (kiwi feather cloak) for people of high rank. Due to the cultural significance to Maori and the traditional knowledge about the bird, tangata whenua are a key stakeholder in kiwi management.

For a number of local iwi and hapu throughout New Zealand, this relationship between tangata whenua and kiwi has been formally recognised as part of their Treaty of Waitangi settlement claims, which encompass specific references to species recovery work. This includes the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998. Community involvement Kiwi have become flagship species for conservation and are often used as a measure for the state of our natural environment and the outcome and value of community conservation projects. Today, more than 90 community and iwi-led groups actively protect kiwi over a combined area estimated to be 230,000 ha – very similar to the amount of public conservation land protected by DOC for kiwi. Land is managed for wild populations, as well as at fenced predator-proof sites and on predator-free islands Many community and iwi-led kiwi conservation groups are working to help kiwi Threats to kiwi The biggest threat to kiwi chicks is stoats, and to adult kiwi, dogs. Introduced mammals can also have a wider impact on kiwi. Competition by rodents for similar food appears to result in delayed growth of kiwi chicks and therefore increased pressure on the overall population at some sites.

Rats are fodder for stoats – when there are lots of rats, there are lots of stoats. In areas where we do the work to control predators, kiwi numbers are increasing. On the Coromandel, for example, the kiwi population is doubling every decade thanks to intensive predator control. Other threats include habitat modification/loss and motor vehicle strike, as well as the small population size and distribution of some species. New avian disease and parasites that may reach New Zealand present a further threat to kiwi populations. Stoats In most parts of the country, stoats are responsible for approximately half of kiwi chick deaths on the mainland. Without management only 10% of kiwi chicks survive to the age of six months. Young kiwi chicks are vulnerable to stoat predation until they reach about one kilogram in weight, at which time they can usually defend themselves against stoats. Dogs Dogs frequently kill adult kiwi and can cause catastrophic declines in local populations. All dogs, regardless of size, breed, training or temperament are potential kiwi killers. Farm dogs, hunting dogs, visiting dogs and pet dogs are equally attracted to the strong distinctive scent of kiwi.

They may not mean to kill, but kiwi are extremely easily crushed in dog’s jaws, even if just in a playful bite. Kiwi have no sternum (breastbone), so their ribcage is very vulnerable to collapse. It is now recognised that dogs significantly reduce the life expectancy of adult Northland brown kiwi to just 14 years on average. Read more about dogs and Northland brown kiwi . Cats Uncontrolled, wild or abandoned cats are a threat and kill kiwi chicks. Tests with radio collars on pet cats have shown their ability to wander up to 20 kilometres from home. Ferrets Ferrets frequently kill adult kiwi. Small population size Risks to small populations of kiwi include loss of genetic diversity, inbreeding and vulnerability to localised dramatic events such as fire, disease or predator increases. Limited dispersal and associated lowered chances of finding a mate in declining, small populations can also lead to lower reproductive rates, worsening the effect of the decline. You can help For New Zealanders, the kiwi is not just another bird and saving kiwi is not just a matter of concern for scientists and conservationists.

To all New Zealanders, kiwi are an important part of our unique natural heritage. There are many kiwi conservation groups that you could join. They are from the Far North all the way down to Stewart Island. Their main focus is on predator control – thousands and thousands of traps are placed throughout New Zealand forests. You can help save the kiwi in many ways: Control dogs and other pets Keep your dog tied up and cats inside at night if you live in or near kiwi habitat. Avoid taking your dogs into kiwi areas. Dogs are prohibited from all kiwi sanctuaries. If you do need to take your dog into kiwi areas, take it to kiwi aversion training, and keep it on a leash under strict control at all times. Remember dogs are not permitted in many conservation areas so check with your local DOC office first. Report roaming dogs in kiwi areas to DOC. Do not dump unwanted pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) in the bush. Give them to the SPCA or have them humanely put down by a vet.

Rowi killed by a stoat The biggest threat to kiwi chicks is stoats, and to adult kiwi, dogs Make a donation Visit the Kiwis for kiwi website and make a secure online credit card donation. All donations go directly to Kiwis for kiwi for allocation to kiwi conservation projects throughout New Zealand. Any donation over $5 is tax deductible. Volunteer to help save kiwi Volunteer your time and energy to local kiwi conservation community projects. Encourage the safeguarding of kiwi habitat in your area. Consider moving to or establishing a cat- and dog-free housing subdivision. Watch out for kiwi If you are lucky to have kiwi on your property, protect them by fencing and covenanting habitat, trapping predators, keeping dogs under control, and putting escape ramps in cattle stops. Learn to recognise kiwi calls and report what you hear and see to DOC. Drive carefully at night and watch for kiwi on roads when driving through kiwi habitat (look out for the distinctive yellow kiwi road sign). If you manage plantation forest, use techniques such as the kiwi-safe harvesting regime. Report sick or injured kiwi If you find a sick, injured or dead kiwi, take it to your nearest DOC office.

If you hit a kiwi with your car, do not hit-and-run! If the bird is injured or dead, take it to your nearest DOC office. Kiwi Bird - Animal Facts and Information Kiwi Bird Posted by BioExpedition | Apr 13, 2012 | Animals , Birds | Kiwi Bird Facts and Information Introduction to Kiwi Bird The Kiwi Bird doesn’t fly and that is one distinction from it and other types of birds. They are about the size of a chicken. There are 5 species of them that have been recognized. They range in size based on location and species but they are about 18 inches tall and weigh about 7 pounds. This particular bird doesn’t have a tail either. Class Apteryx Kiwi Bird Description They are the only bird species that have nostrils at the end of their long beak. They have a beak that is about 1/3 the length of their body. It is extremely sensitive to touch. They have wings but they don’t have any muscle which is why they don’t fly. The wings blend in so well to their feathers that you have to look closely to see that they have them. They have a roundish body like a chicken.

They have claw like feet that are very sharp and they use them for protection when necessary. They also use them to dig for food. Kiwi Bird Distribution The Southern Alps are the main location for the Kiwi Bird. New Zealand is where about 20,000 of them live. They like dark forests areas, they are able to adapt to a variety of locations. As their natural habitat has been removed they have been forced to live in areas that weren’t common to them before. Breeding programs at the the zoos have helped to increase their overall population. Kiwi Bird Behavior This is a very shy bird and they tend to move quickly when they feel that there could be a predator around their habitat. They are also nocturnal and that helps them to stay away from various types of predators. They are very vocal and that helps them to protect territory, warn of dangers, and call to their mate. Kiwi Bird – Genus: Apteryx Kiwi Bird Feeding They consume a variety of foods including small invertebrates, grubs, seeds, and various types of worms. They will consume fruit when it is in season and various types of amphibians .

They are able to locate insects and worms under the ground without having to see them due to their great sense of smell. Kiwi Bird Reproduction The males and females have dance rituals from March to June when they will take part in mating. They are very particular about who they choose for a mate because they will stay loyal to that same partner for life. If one of them dies there could be another mate in the future.. This particular bird lays the largest size of egg in proportion to their body size of any birds. Only 1 egg is placed into the nest that both the male and the female will create. The female will spend most of the time incubating the egg while the male looks for food to bring back to her. They young will arrive in about 63 to 92 days. The parents will take turns protecting it and bringing food back to the nest. In a few weeks the bird will be able to leave the nest with them. They can live up to 20 years in the wild. Kiwi Bird Conservation All 5 of the Kiwi Bird species are at risk of extinction due to increased numbers of predators and loss of habitat.

They are preserved in many National Parks and forests but there is still more work that has to be done in order to protect them. Share:

Question: By what other name is the bird the apteryx known?
Answer: KIWI